Val Verde

My sympathies go out to Lynne Plambeck and the members of SCOPE over the removal of 105 oak trees in preparation for the latest shopping center to sprout at the fringes of Santa Clarita. The manner in which Newhall Land & Farming Co. conducted the removal of these trees--a rapid assault--while SCOPE was still going through an appeals process, was utterly contemptible. The justifications provided by Newhall Land spokeswoman Marlee Lauffer ("we have all the appropriate permits") only demonstrate the sheer determination of Newhall Land to pursue their bottom line.

Allowing Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Val Verde to expand its capacity tenfold would significantly harm the area's air quality, draw more traffic and simply isn't necessary, dump opponents told county planning commissioners Wednesday night. "Please remember, we are human beings and deserve a clean and safe community," said Jose Vega, a resident of the small Val Verde community that lies west of the Golden State Freeway and north of Six Flags Magic Mountain. He was one of about 200 protesters who attended the meeting.

Allowing Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Val Verde to expand its capacity tenfold would significantly harm the area's air quality, draw more traffic and simply isn't necessary, dump opponents told county planning commissioners Wednesday night. "Please remember, we are human beings and deserve a clean and safe community," said Jose Vega, a resident of the small Val Verde community that lies west of the Golden State Freeway and north of Six Flags Magic Mountain.

A 17-year-old Val Verde boy was stabbed to death Tuesday night in what authorities suspect was a gang-related incident, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Jim Youguez apparently died of a single stab wound about 8 p.m. near Newhall Avenue and 14th Street in Newhall, police said. The victim was brought to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia 30 minutes later. Homicide detectives said they have no suspect or witness and have asked for help from the public.

A Los Angeles County food pantry to provide emergency supplies to the poor, the second in the Santa Clarita Valley, has officially opened. Volunteers and county workers Friday distributed shopping bags of food containing items ranging from government surplus macaroni to cake mix.

A Val Verde real estate agent, who said she was kidnaped June 29 while showing a house to a Michigan man, testified Thursday that she had no chance to flee while she and the defendant shopped for camping gear. Paula Harrington, 27, said that most of the time she was with accused abductor Timothy Shue, her legs were tied with an elastic bandage.

A Michigan man scheduled to stand trial next week in the kidnaping of a Val Verde real estate agent lost a key courtroom battle Monday when a judge ruled that a confession by him to police was admissible evidence. Federal Magistrate Edward Rafeedie also ruled that prosecutors could tell the jury that the alleged victim had identified the defendant from a photo lineup.

A man leaving a fund-raising event that attracted more than 21,000 motorcyclists was killed and his wife critically injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon, authorities said. The accident was one of three serious collisions involving participants in the Love Ride, the country's largest motorcycle charity ride. Two men were hospitalized with injuries during the ride from Glendale to Castaic and later a semitrailer truck overturned in Castaic while swerving to avoid some cyclists.

Real estate agent Paula Harrington has led two lives since her kidnaping two months ago. Neither is the one she knew before the three-day ordeal. On the one hand, the 26-year-old Val Verde resident is grateful to be alive, attending college, spending more time with her family and looking forward to having children. On the other, there are the nightmares and therapy sessions that have become a way of life.

Val Verde real estate agent Paula Harrington, who was kidnaped two months ago by a man posing as a customer, has quit her job--at least temporarily. Harrington, 26, said she is devoting more time to her family and has gone back to college. She also is undergoing therapy. Harrington was abducted at gunpoint June 29 while showing houses to a man later identified by authorities as Timothy Daniel Shue, 39. Two days later, she was found tied up in an Arizona motel room.